Information Technology
Policies and Guidelines
at the University of Michigan

Preferred Names

April 2007

The University recognizes that as a community many of its members use names other than their legal names to identify themselves. As long as the use of this different name is not for the purposes of misrepresentation, the University acknowledges that a "preferred name" can and should be used wherever possible in the course of University business and education.

Therefore, it is the policy of the University that any student, active or retired faculty or staff member, or alumni may choose to identify themselves within the University's information systems with a preferred name in addition to the person's legal name. It is further understood that the person's preferred name shall be used in all University communications and reporting except where the use of the legal name is required by University business or legal need.

The individual is free to determine the preferred name he or she wants to be known by in the University's information systems. However, inappropriate use of the preferred name policy (including but not limited to avoiding a legal obligation or misrepresentation) may be cause for denying the request.

For additional detail, see the Preferred Names FAQ.

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